One of my favorite bits of SU hoops coverage every year is what Mike Waters has called this year the “Had To Ask” survey. This is the assortment of questions about the players’ lives and preferences that the P-S publishes each preseason. It was through this survey in previous years that we learned that Arinze Onuaku is a fan of go-go music (a mix of funk and hip-hop found mainly in the DC area) and that Matt Gorman’s favorite magazine is Soldier of Fortune. (I can’t find these references online anywhere but they are firmly burned into my memory.) This year’s survey cries out for some analysis.

If you could be another Big East player, who would it be?

Jonny Flynn: Paul Harris
Paul Harris: Jonny Flynn
Okay guys, we get it. You’re buddies.
Rick Jackson: Hasheem Thabeet. I’d like to see how it is to be that tall.
Being 6-9 isn’t enough for you?
Kristof Ongenaet: It can’t be Donte Greene?
Be glad it’s not, otherwise he’d be the starting PF and you’d be on the bench.
Mookie Jones: I don’t believe in that. I’m not gonna say.
Borrrrr-ing.

What’s your favorite place in Syracuse?

Jackson: The mall
Which mall, Rick? Carousel? Shoppingtown? Great Northern? We’re at war; pick a side.
Jones: The gym
This kid is too serious.
Flynn: Goldstein Dining Hall
Careful — this isn’t exactly known for its healthy dining options. Watch your calorie intake, Jonny. You won’t be playing 40 minutes a game this year. (We hope!)
Rautins: Cosmos is my spot.
That’s fine, but you grew up in this town — where’s the love for Fast Break?
Ongenaet: Skaneateles Lake
This man knows what he’s talking about.

(PS. Leave it to the Belgian to get all nature-y.)
Jardine: Erie Boulevard Bowling Center
Nothing says “classy” like being a regular at a neighborhood bowling alley. This place is not the nastiest bowling place around, but it’s not exactly Strike Lanes.

What two teams are going to the Super Bowl and who’s going to win?

Plenty of hometown allegiances becoming evident here:
Flynn: The Bills. Yeah, I’m biased. But they look good this year. The Bills and I want to say the Cowboys. The Bills are gonna win.
Harris: The Bills and Dallas. The Bills are gonna win.
Onuaku: The Redskins. I don’t know who else, but the Redskins are going to win it.
Jackson: The Eagles. I still got faith in my Eagles. And I don’t know the other team.
Jardine: The Eagles obviously. The Eagles and whoever. I don’t care. But we should be talking about the Phillies.
No we shouldn’t.
Ongenaet: I’m a Favre fan, so I’ll say the Jets.
I wonder how many pro football players K-Ong could name before he moved to the U.S.
Jones: I don’t follow football.
Too much time in the gym?

Which member of the coaching staff would do the best on “Dancing With the Stars?”

Most votes here went to Rob Murphy, but:
Ongenaet: Bernie Fine
That is something I would pay real money to see.

If you were running for president, who would be your vice president?

Devendorf: Arinze
A balanced ticket; each guy’s strengths supplements the other’s weaknesses
Jardine: Stan Kissel. I’m serious.
In case you were wondering, Stan Kissel is SU’s director of basketball operations. Probably would be better off as Chief of Staff, but that’s just my opinion. And no, I’m not adding a “Stan Kissel” category to the blog.
Ongenaet: Sarah Palin
Good luck with that
Williams: Beyonce
Right. And I’m sure you’d have plenty of private “executive meetings”…

What are the best and worst movies you’ve seen this year?

Devendorf: One of the worst movies I saw was “College Road Trip” and the best was “21.”
Who knew Eric would be so into the mathematics of probability?
Flynn: “Batman: The Dark Knight” was the best; “I am Legend” was the worst.
Harris: “Batman: The Dark Knight” was the best. That movie with Will Smith, “I am Legend,” was the worst.
Guys, this isn’t going to be graded. You don’t have to copy off each other.
Jones: I haven’t seen many movies.
I guess because he spent all his time in the gym, not following football. Seriously, does this man have a life outside basketball? (I kind of hope he doesn’t, because in that case he could be on the way to becoming a single-minded hoops beast.)
Ongenaet: The worst was “Made of Honor.” I had to watch it with my girlfriend. I liked the new Batman movie.
Come on, KO. Who doesn’t love McDreamy?
Rautins: The worst is “Open Water.” Awful movie. And the best is “Boondock Saints.”
OK. First of all, Andy is spending some time at Blockbuster — these movies are both more than five years old. Secondly, I never heard of “Boondock Saints” but if it’s so good, I figure I better learn. Wikipedia has educated me. The film was originally released in only five theaters, for one week, in 1999, and achieved its measure of popularity only after being released on DVD. On the other hand, it does contain the Russian mob, vigilante justice, and Ron Jeremy, so it’s gotta be awesome.
Williams: The best is “The Express.”
Hell yeah!! Finally, something we can all agree on. Sean Williams is now my new favorite guy on the team.